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Three children killed in Northumberland County fire

(Danville) -- Authorities in Montour and Northumberland counties say an early morning fire killed three children.

Officials say the fire was reported at about 1:20 a.m. this morning in a home outside Danville, in Rush Township, Northumberland County.

The Northumberland County coroner identified the victims as 13-year old Daniel Dissinger, 7-year old Gavin Dissinger and 2-year old Arthur Dissinger. The deaths were ruled accidental.

Assistant Fire Chief Jon Stassel of the Southside Fire Company in Riverside says a mother and six children lived in the home. He says the mother wasn't home, and two of the children managed to get out. Another child was sleeping at a friend's house.

He says the home had almost completely collapsed when his company arrived. A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause.

An earlier version of this story is below:

Authorities in Montour and Northumberland counties say an early morning fire has claimed the lives of three children.

The fire was reported at about 1:20 a.m. this morning in a home in Rush Township in Northumberland County.

Assistant Fire Chief Jon Stassel of Southside Fire Company in Riverside says a mother and six children lived in the home.

He says the mother was not home and two of the children managed to get out of the structure. Another child was visiting a friend overnight.

Stassel says he could not immediately provide ages or other information on the three children who died.

He says the structure had almost completely collapsed into the basement when his company arrived.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation by a state police fire marshal.

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